Tamper Evident Bag Seal

ABSTRACT

A tamper evident bag seal. The tamper evident bag seal may include a body having a length and a width, the body may include a first panel and a second panel, with the first and second panels each having a bag facing side and an outward facing side; a first fold extending along a length of the body and disposed between the first panel and the second panel; a tear strip disposed along a length of at least one of the first panel and/or the second panel; a first adhesive strip disposed on the bag facing side of the first panel and a second adhesive strip on the bag facing side of the second panel, the first and second adhesive strips configured to secure the respective first and second panels to respective first and second sides of a bag; and wherein the bag facing side of the first panel may be configured to be secured to a first side of a bag and the bag facing side of the second panel may be configured to be secured to a second side of the bag.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 29/725,476, filed Feb. 25, 2020, the application ofwhich is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.29/707,037, filed Sep. 25, 2019, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter of the invention relates generally to securecontainers and more particularly to a tamper evident bag seal includinga tear-away strip and methods.

BACKGROUND

Disposable containers for packaging, distributing, displaying orotherwise housing consumer items, such as food containers, are becomingincreasingly important. For example, bags, such as paper bags, are usedfor distributing and/or carrying food items, such as take out or to-gofood containers. Sometimes it is desirable that an item or items, suchas food containers, be placed in, for example, a bag for ease oftransport. Unfortunately, it is a frequent occurrence that thecontainers may be tampered with by persons who wish to access the itemor items in the containers. In taking steps to avoid this invasion ofthe container, many approaches in the nature of security and/or safetyhave been utilized. However, some of these security attempts have beeneasily circumvented and others have been very expensive.

One of the desirable features of security packaging is thecharacteristic that any tampering with the package produces a “tamperevident” condition. With a “tamper evident” condition, a consumer canvisually detect that the container has been tampered. Unfortunately,many security attempts have been unsuccessful in that it is not fullyevident that the security of the container has been breached.Consequently, new approaches are needed for incorporating tamper evidentfeatures into containers.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a tamper evident bag seal is provided. The tamperevident bag seal may include a body having a length and a width, thebody may include a first panel and a second panel, with the first andsecond panels each having a bag facing side and an outward facing side;a first fold extending along a length of the body and disposed betweenthe first panel and the second panel; a tear strip disposed along alength of at least one of the first panel and/or the second panel; and afirst adhesive strip disposed on the bag facing side of the first paneland a second adhesive strip on the bag facing side of the second panel,the first and second adhesive strips configured to secure the respectivefirst and second panels to respective first and second sides of a bag.The bag facing side of the first panel may be configured to be securedto a first side of a bag and the bag facing side of the second panel maybe configured to be secured to a second side of the bag. The tear stripmay be positioned about halfway between the first fold and a lower edgeof the first panel and/or the second panel on which it is disposed. Thetear strip may further include a tear strip reinforcement backing,wherein the tear strip reinforcement backing may include a length ofbacking material disposed along a backside of the tear strip. The tamperevident bag seal may further include an opening provided along the firstfold and disposed between the first panel and the second panel andsubstantially centered along the length of the body. The opening may beconfigured for receiving one or more handles of a bag therethrough. Theadhesive strip may have a portion of it whose length extends a distancethat is longer than the length of the body of the tamper evident seal.The tamper evident bag seal may further include a second fold extendingalong a length of one of the first or second panels that is absent thetear strip, wherein the second fold may be positioned about halfwaybetween the first fold and a lower edge of the first panel and/or thesecond panel on which it is disposed. The tamper evident bag seal wheninstalled on the bag and sealed is configured to secure a contents ofthe bag therein, and wherein the contents of the bag cannot be accessedvia the tamper evident bag seal without causing the tamper evident bagseal to indicate a tamper evident condition. The tamper evident bag sealmay further include a tear line along either side of the tear strip.

In another embodiment, a method of using a tamper evident bag seal isprovided. The method may include providing a tamper evident bag seal;positioning the tamper evident bag seal about an opening of a bag havingcontents therein; and sealing the opening of the bag with the tamperevident bag seal thereby securing the contents within the bag. The firstand second panels may be adhered to respective first and second sides ofthe bag via double side adhesive tape. The tamper evident bag seal mayinclude an opening provided along a portion of the first fold anddisposed between the first panel and the second panel and substantiallycentered along the length of the body. The one or more bag handles, ifpresent on the bag, may be fitted through the opening when the tamperevident bag seal is positioned on the bag. The opening of the bag may besealed between the first and second panels of the tamper evident bagseal.

In yet another embodiment, a method of accessing contents of a bagsecured with a tamper evident bag seal installed thereon. The method mayinclude providing a bag with contents therein and a tamper evident bagseal installed thereon; removing the tear strip; and accessing thecontents within the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the subject matter of the invention in generalterms, reference will now be made to the accompanying Drawings, whichare not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tamper evident bag seal, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example of the tamper evident bagseal in a semi-folded and untampered with state;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal ofFIG. 1 shown as installed on a bag in a sealed configuration, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal ofFIG. 1 shown as installed on a bag in an unsealed or tampered evidentconfiguration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 14 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 15 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a tamper evident bag seal showing analternate embodiment, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 19 is bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 20 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal ofFIG. 17 shown as installed on a bag in a sealed configuration, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 22 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 23 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 24 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 25 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 26 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal ofFIG. 17 shown as installed on a bag in an unsealed or tampered evidentconfiguration, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 27 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 28 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 29 is a right side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 30 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 31 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGS. 32 through 34 illustrate schematic views of examples of differentsized tamper evident bag seals for use with different sized bags, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 35 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal ofFIG. 1 or 17 shown as installed on a bag in a sealed configuration, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 36 is another perspective view of the tamper evident bag seal ofFIG. 1 or 17 shown as installed on a bag in an unsealed or tamperedevident configuration, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the invention now will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which some,but not all embodiments of the subject matter of the invention areshown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The subjectmatter of the invention may be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure willsatisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications andother embodiments of the subject matter of the invention set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the subjectmatter of the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated Drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that the subject matter of theinvention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed andthat modifications and other embodiments are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the appended claims.

In some embodiments, the subject matter of the invention provides atamper evident bag seal including a tear-away strip and methods.

In some embodiments, the tamper evident bag seal may be provided as anaddon device to an existing bag that otherwise does not include a tamperevident feature. Once installed on the bag, the tamper evident bag sealprovides a tamper evident sign or indicator that shows that the bag hasbeen opened and potentially that the contents of the bag have beentampered with. The tamper evident bag seal may be, for example, a paperor paperboard panel (or any other suitable material) that folds over thehandles of an existing bag and is secured to the sides of the bag. Thetamper evident bag seal may be provided in different sizes (e.g., small,medium and large) that correlate to different size bags and/or baghandle sizes. The tamper evident bag seal may be used with bags havingseveral different handle configurations, such as, but not limited to,plastic, plastic rope, plastic ribbon, injection molded plastic, paper,and rope handles.

The tamper evident bag seal may include, for example, a fold-over panelor card that has double sided tape on each side of the fold-over card.Further, at least one of the fold-over panels or cards may include atear-away strip (or perforated tear strip). The fold-over card may alsoinclude an opening for fitting over the handles of the bag. After thecontents are placed into the bag, the fold-over card that fits the bag(e.g., small, medium and large) fits over the handles, the adhesiveliner may then be removed from each side of the card, and then the sidesof fold-over card may be folded over and secured to the sides of thebag. Accordingly, the tamper evident bag seal is used to seal the baguntil the tear-away strip (or perforated tear strip) is torn away andallowing access to the contents.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 illustrate various views of an example of tamperevident bag seal 100 including a tear-away strip 120 in a pre-installedand untampered with state.

Referring to FIGS. 5-10 illustrate various views of an example of tamperevident bag seal 100 including tear-away strip 120 that is fullyinstalled on a bag 150 and in a sealed or untampered with state.

Referring to FIGS. 11-16 illustrate various views of an example oftamper evident bag seal 100 installed on a bag 150 with tear-away strip120 removed and in an un-sealed or tampered with state.

Referring to FIGS. 17-19 illustrate various views of another example oftamper evident bag seal 100 including tear-away strip 120 in apre-installed and untampered with state.

Referring to FIGS. 20-25 illustrate various views of an example of thetamper evident bag seal 100 of FIGS. 17-19 fully installed on a bag 150and in a sealed or untampered with state.

Referring to FIGS. 26-31 illustrate various views of an example oftamper evident bag seal 100 of FIGS. 17-19 installed on a bag 150 withtear-away strip 120 removed and in an un-sealed or tampered with state.

Referring to FIGS. 32 through 34 illustrate schematic views of examplesof different sized tamper evident bag seals 100 including tear-awaystrip 120 for use with different sized bags 150 in a pre-installed anduntampered with state.

Referring to FIGS. 35 and 36 illustrates another example of the tamperevident bag seal 100 of FIG. 1 or 17 shown as installed on a bag 150 ina sealed configuration and as installed on a bag 150 in an unsealed ortampered evident configuration, respectively.

With reference to the figures, in one non-limiting example, tamperevident bag seal 100 may be made of cardboard (or any other suitablematerial and/or thickness). In one non-limiting example, tamper evidentbag seal 100 may be made of cardboard in the range of about 0.012-inchthick (or any other suitable material and/or thickness). Tamper evidentbag seal 100 may include two panels or flaps 110 (e.g., 110 a, 110 b)joined at a fold 112. An opening 114 may be provided along fold 112 andat about the center of fold 112. A strip of double-sided tape 116, orother suitable adhesive technique or mechanism may be provided on thebag facing side of each of the two panels or flaps 110. A fold 118 maybe provided about midway of one of the two panels or flaps 110. Further,a tear-away strip 120 may be provided about midway of the other of thetwo panels or flaps 110 and wherein tear-away strip 120 may be aperforated tear strip that has a tear line 124 on each side. In oneexample, the perforated tear strip may alternatively be a scored tearstrip with score lines replacing tear lines 124.

In one example, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be foldable along fold112, as shown for example in FIG. 4.

In one example, fold 118 may be provided about midway of flap 110 awhile tear-away strip 120 may be provided about midway of flap 110 b. Inanother example, fold 118 may be provided about midway of flap 110 bwhile tear-away strip 120 may be provided about midway of flap 110 a. Inyet another example, both flaps 110 a and 110 b include a tear-awaystrip 120. In yet another example, neither of flaps 110 a or 110 binclude fold 118. Tamper evident bag seal 100 may be provided as anaddon device to an existing bag that otherwise does not include a tamperevident feature, such as bag 150 that does not otherwise include atamper evident feature. In one example, bag 150 may have bag handles152. Bag handles 152 may be, for example, plastic, plastic rope, plasticribbon, injection molded plastic, paper, rope, or other suitable typehandles.

Tear-away strip 120 may be a perforated tear strip along tamper evidentbag seal 100 that is the mechanism for gaining access to and opening bag150 and wherein tear-away strip 120 may also be the tamper evidentfeature of tamper evident bag seal 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 32-34 are plan views of examples of differentsized tamper evident bag seals 100 for use with different sized bags.Generally, tamper evident bag seal 100 may have an overall length L andan overall width W. Further, each panel or flap 110 may have a width w.Further, handle opening 114 may have a length l1 and a width w1.Further, double-sided tape 116 may have a width w2. Double-sided tape116 may be, for example, 2 ply, 4 ply, or other suitable type tape.Additionally, the length of double-sided tape 116 may extend a distancebeyond each end of tamper evident bag seal 100, in a non-limitingexample, in the range of about 0.25 inches.

In the example shown in FIG. 32, tamper evident bag seal 100 may bedesigned to fit on a bag about 8-inch to 10-inch wide. In this example,tamper evident bag seal 100 may have an overall length L of about 10inches and an overall width W of about 6 inches. Further, each panel orflap 110 may have a width w of about 3 inches and wherein if fold 118 ispresent it may be about midway of the 3-inch flap 110. Further, handleopening 114 may have a length l1 of about 4.25 inches and a width w1 ofabout 0.375 inches. Further, double-sided tape 116 may have a width w2of from about 0.75 inches to about 1 inch.

Further, tear-away strip 120 may be in the range of about 0.375 incheswide. Additionally, the tear lines 124 on each side of tear-away strip120 may be in the range of about 0.0625-inch×0.0625-inch perforation, orother suitable dimension, or may alternatively be score lines. Further,for strength, a length of tear strip backing 122 may be provided alongtear-away strip 120. Tear strip backing 122 may be about 0.125 incheswide and may be formed, for example, of 2.35 mil poly material, or anyother suitable material. Tear strip backing 122 may be provided as areinforcing element for tearing tear-away strip 120, for example, tohelp tear-away strip 120 to be removed as a single continuous strip. Insome embodiments, tamper evident bag seal 100 may be absent tear stripbacking 122.

In the example shown in FIG. 33, tamper evident bag seal 100 may bedesigned to fit on a bag about 12-inch to 14-inch wide with handles. Inthis example, the dimensions of tamper evident bag seal 100 may besubstantially the same as those described hereinabove with reference toFIG. 5 except that the overall length L may be about 14 inches.

In the example shown in FIG. 34, tamper evident bag seal 100 may bedesigned to fit on a bag about 15-inch to 19-inch wide with handles. Inthis example, the dimensions of tamper evident bag seal 100 aresubstantially the same as those described hereinabove with reference toFIG. 5 except that the overall length L may be about 19 inches.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 32-34, tamper evident bag seal 100 may becut to length to more precisely fit any particular bag. Tamper evidentbag seal 100 of FIG. 32 may be considered the “small” size. Tamperevident bag seal 100 of FIG. 33 may be considered the “medium” size.Tamper evident bag seal 100 of FIG. 34 may be considered the “large”size. However, the examples of tamper evident bag seal 100 shown inFIGS. 32-34 are exemplary only. Tamper evident bag seal 100 may beprovided with any dimensions, e.g., larger or smaller than the examplesshown in FIGS. 32-34.

In one example embodiment, as shown in FIG. 35, the tamper evident bagseal 100 may be installed on a bag 150 having a width shorter than thelength of the tamper evident bag seal 100. In such an exampleembodiment, overhanging end portions of the tamper evident bag seal 100that extend out past the outer edges of bag 150 may be adhered to oneanother via double-sided tape 116. In this configuration, the topportion of bag 150 may be pinched closed between panels 110 a and 110 bof the tamper evident bag seal 100 when installed and in the sealeduntampered with state.

FIG. 36 illustrates the tamper evident bag seal of FIG. 35 shown asinstalled on a bag 150 in an unsealed or tampered evident configuration,with tear-away strip 120 removed.

In operation and referring now again to FIGS. 1-36, bag 150 may beprovided with some contents already inside (e.g., food), and the tamperevident bag seal 100 may be provided. The two bag handles 152 of bag 150(if present) may be brought together, and handle opening 114 of tamperevident bag seal 100 may be fitted down over the bag handles 152 of bag150. Tamper evident bag seal 100 may then be folded over bag 150 at fold112 and one flap 110 (e.g., flap 110 a) may be adhered to one side ofbag 150 via a strip of double-sided tape 116, and the other flap 110(e.g., flap 110 b) may be adhered to the other side of bag 150 via astrip of double-sided tape 116. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 35, inaddition to adhering the flaps 110 (110 a, 110 b) to their correspondingsides of the bag 150, opposing overhanging end portions of the flaps 110(110 a, 110 b) may also be adhered together via the double-sided tape116. In an alternate embodiment, tamper evident bag seal 100 may beinstalled on a bag 150 without handles 152.

Accordingly, tamper evident bag seal 100 is used to seal bag 150, asshown for example in FIGS. 5, 20, and 35. To open bag 150, a user maygrasp one end of tear-away strip 120 and tears it away and therebycompromising, for example, flap 110 b such that bag 150 can be openedand the contents removed.

In an alternate embodiment, tamper evident bag seal 100 may include ahandle portion (not shown) in the area of the handle opening 114.Wherein the handle portion would replace the handle opening 114, and beconfigured to provide a handle for a user to grab and carry the bag 150if the bag 150 does not include handle 152. The rest of the tamperevident bag seal 100 in this alternative embodiment would besubstantially the same as described above. In operation this alternateembodiment would operate similar to that described above, with theexception of the steps of two bag handles 152 of bag 150 being broughttogether and fitting handle opening 114 of tamper evident bag seal 100down over the bag handles 152 of bag 150, which would be omitted.

FIGS. 5, 20, and 35 show examples of tamper evident bag seal 100installed on bag 150 in the closed and sealed untampered with state.Additionally, FIGS. 5, 20, and 35 show examples of bag 150 in a “secure”condition because tear-away strip 120 of tamper evident bag seal 100 isfully intact. That is, a “tamper evident” condition is not presentbecause tear-away strip 120 has not been compromised.

In summary, tamper evident bag seal 100 includes tear-away strip 120,which is the mechanism for opening bag 150. Namely, to open bag 150, auser must tear away tear-away strip 120. The compromised tear-away strip120 provides easy visual evidence that bag 150 has been opened ortampered with. Accordingly, tear-away strip 120 provides the tamperevident feature of bag 150 that otherwise does not include a tamperevident feature.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and“the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, includingthe claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes aplurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary(e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth.

Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,”“comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, exceptwhere the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” andits grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such thatrecitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other likeitems that can be substituted or added to the listed items.

For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unlessotherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions,proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, quantities,characteristics, and other numerical values used in the specificationand claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances bythe term “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appearwith the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to thecontrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the followingspecification and attached claims are not and need not be exact, but maybe approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired, reflectingtolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and thelike, and other factors known to those of skill in the art depending onthe desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosedsubject matter. For example, the term “about,” when referring to a valuecan be meant to encompass variations of, in some embodiments ±100%, insome embodiments ±50%, in some embodiments ±20%, in some embodiments±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments ±1%, in someembodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from the specifiedamount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosedmethods or employ the disclosed compositions.

Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or morenumbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all suchnumbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range byextending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth.The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers,e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within thatrange (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5,as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like)and any range within that range.

Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in some detailby way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatcertain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope ofthe appended claims.

That which is claimed:
 1. A tamper evident bag seal, comprising: a. abody having a length and a width, the body comprising a first panel anda second panel, with the first and second panels each having a bagfacing side and an outward facing side; b. a first fold extending alonga length of the body and disposed between the first panel and the secondpanel; c. a tear strip disposed along a length of at least one of thefirst panel and/or the second panel; and d. a first adhesive stripdisposed on the bag facing side of the first panel and a second adhesivestrip on the bag facing side of the second panel, the first and secondadhesive strips configured to secure the respective first and secondpanels to respective first and second sides of a bag.
 2. The tamperevident bag seal of claim 1, wherein the tear strip is positioned abouthalfway between the first fold and a lower edge of the first paneland/or the second panel on which it is disposed.
 3. The tamper evidentbag seal of claim 1, wherein the tear strip further comprising a tearstrip reinforcement backing, wherein the tear strip reinforcementbacking comprises a length of backing material disposed along a backsideof the tear strip.
 4. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, furthercomprising an opening provided along the first fold and disposed betweenthe first panel and the second panel and substantially centered alongthe length of the body.
 5. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 4,wherein the opening is configured for receiving one or more handles of abag therethrough.
 6. The tamper evident bag seal of claim 1, wherein theadhesive strip has a portion of it whose length extends a distance thatis longer than the length of the body of the tamper evident seal.
 7. Thetamper evident bag seal of claim 1, further comprising a second foldextending along a length of one of the first or second panels that isabsent the tear strip, wherein the second fold is positioned abouthalfway between the first fold and a lower edge of the first paneland/or the second panel on which it is disposed.
 8. The tamper evidentbag seal of claim 1, wherein the tamper evident bag seal when installedon the bag and sealed is configured to secure a contents of the bagtherein, and wherein the contents of the bag cannot be accessed via thetamper evident bag seal without causing the tamper evident bag seal toindicate a tamper evident condition.
 9. The tamper evident bag seal ofclaim 1, further comprising a tear line along either side of the tearstrip.
 10. A method of using a tamper evident bag seal to secure anopening of a bag, comprising: a. providing a tamper evident bag seal,comprising; i. a body having a length and a width, the body comprising afirst panel and a second panel, with the first and second panels eachhaving a bag facing side and an outward facing side; ii. a first foldextending along a length of the body and disposed between the firstpanel and the second panel; iii. a tear strip disposed along a length ofat least one of the first panel and/or the second panel; and iv. a firstadhesive strip disposed on the bag facing side of the first panel and asecond adhesive strip on the bag facing side of the second panel, thefirst and second adhesive strips configured to secure the respectivefirst and second panels to respective first and second sides of a bag;b. positioning the tamper evident bag seal about an opening of a baghaving contents therein; and c. sealing the opening of the bag with thetamper evident bag seal thereby securing the contents within the bag.11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second panels areadhered to respective first and second sides of the bag via double sideadhesive tape.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the tamper evidentbag seal further comprises an opening provided along a portion of thefirst fold and disposed between the first panel and the second panel andsubstantially centered along the length of the body.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein one or more bag handles, if present on the bag, arefitted through the opening when the tamper evident bag seal ispositioned on the bag.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the openingof the bag is sealed between the first and second panels of the tamperevident bag seal.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein upon sealing theopening of the bag with the tamper evident bag seal the contents of thebag cannot be accessed via the tamper evident bag seal without causingthe tamper evident bag seal to indicate a tamper evident condition. 16.A method of accessing contents of a bag secured with a tamper evidentbag seal installed thereon, comprising: a. providing a bag with contentstherein and a tamper evident bag seal installed thereon, the tamperevident bag seal, comprising; i. a body having a length and a width, thebody comprising a first panel and a second panel, with the first andsecond panels each having a bag facing side and an outward facing side;ii. a first fold extending along a length of the body and disposedbetween the first panel and the second panel; iii. a tear strip disposedalong a length of at least one of the first panel and/or the secondpanel; and iv. a first adhesive strip disposed on the bag facing side ofthe first panel and a second adhesive strip on the bag facing side ofthe second panel, the first and second adhesive strips configured tosecure the respective first and second panels to respective first andsecond sides of a bag; b. removing the tear strip; and c. accessing thecontents within the bag.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein thecontents of the bag cannot be accessed via the tamper evident bag sealwithout causing the tamper evident bag seal to indicate a tamper evidentcondition.